Even though Perkins made an early jump to the pros, the 2003 Clifton J. Ozen High School graduate still gets caught up in the excitement of the NCAA[6] Tournament.

‘It’s fun because I’ve been watching a lot of games,’ he said. ‘It’s been very interesting just watching all the buzzer beaters, teams getting upset.’

So while Paul Pierce[7] watched Kansas try to defend its NCAA title and Ray Allen[8] basked in the glory of UConn’s Final Fourth berth, does Perkins ever wish he was part of that?

‘No,’ he said without hesitation. ‘I don’t think anything substitutes for being in the NBA. It’s like, I’ve never known what it’s like to be in college so I never have any regrets or anything like that.’

It’s easier for Perkins to have no regrets when he can place his world championship ring next to his high school diploma.